Our Projects.
Adopt A Village
Out of our strong desire to help not only individuals in need of a helping hand, but entire communities, we established our ADOPT-A-VILLAGE program some years ago. This project is focused on churches, businesses or individuals supporting community-wide transformation by ‘adopting a village’. Through this long-term investment or ‘adoption’, they actively support and resource where necessary a community-wide process of development that will greatly benefit the targeted community. Given this particular program is about journeying with whole communities as they navigate the process of development, a variety of projects and programs are made available to the respective area to utilize, based on their identified and felt needs which we discover together through our Community Development Workshops. These projects and programs usually include a combination of any of our Community Development; Child & Youth Advocacy; and Life Skills Training initiatives, though the ‘package’ looks different in each community as it is based on the community’s identified needs, not our opinion as the assisting organization, or because of any other outside influences. Donors also have the opportunity to visit their ‘adopted’ area they are supporting and be actively involved in ‘their community’.
Agricultural Training & Adopt A Farmer
Given many of our focus areas are rural farming communities, our Agricultural Training Program, including our Adopt-A-Farmer initiative, aims to increase the income generation capacity of local farmers. This is achieved by working with the local community, the farmers in the area, as well as with agricultural specialists, to identify how to best assist the village, developing and implementing activities that meet the specific needs of the area. The main focus of this program is an emphasis on training and equipping the farmers with the knowledge to be able to improve their situation including education on: disease prevention, new farming techniques, proper use of insecticides and fertilizers, and proper irrigation etc. The reason for this heightened emphasis on training is because it equips existing farmers with the necessary skills to improve their crop yields, which will in turn increase their level of income and provide their family with nutritious food. In addition to the training, participants of this program are also given seed crops to enable them to immediately put their new knowledge into practice.
Income Generation
Another way that we are able to help rural families develop sustainable and profitable lasting change, is through our Livestock Program & Training initiative. This is an income generation program focused on helping families start small businesses focusing on breeding livestock, which can provide them with a much-needed income source. In addition to receiving ‘seed’ livestock to begin their small business, a representative of each beneficiary family will be involved in a series of training sessions on the care required for their livestock. Depending on a number of factors including environment, family/friend support network, skill sets/desire, available government agency support, the farmers may raise cows, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, goats etc. Through this program, we aim to increase the level of income, employment opportunities, food security and nutrition for those involved. NOTE: In some cases, where appropriate, a revolving loan system has been established, where the initial recipient/s will receive a loan to purchase livestock and over time will repay the loan from generated income. As loans are repaid, other villagers are able to access funds for the same purpose and under the same conditions.
Food Plant Solutions
Food Plant Solutions is a Life Skills as well as Rural Development training program that has been developed by the Rotary Club of Devonport, Australia designed to teach school-aged children in developing nations how to grow the best produce to meet their nutritional needs while also addressing plaguing social issues including malnutrition and poverty. The program involves building a small garden at the school where participants will learn simple, effective and modern agricultural techniques in addition to learning the available crop types best suited to/for their area, and what their economic yield is per year. The goal is to teach students to harness their local plant resources so they can better feed themselves and their families using existing and available resources while employing better agricultural practices. Additionally, children will then share this new knowledge at home encouraging better agricultural practices, broader crop variations, and consequently increased family income. Another goal is to teach students the importance of agriculture within their community and open their minds to different opportunities and how to take advantage of them. Often it is harder to change more established mindsets in more mature farmers, but in working with children, we have an opportunity to encourage them to try new ideas and even pursue further studies in this field.
Water Filtration Systems
One of the most critical needs that a community will often identify as we work together on their journey towards development, is the desperate need for clean water. Clean water is not only a fundamental right, but, a foundational stepping-stone on the road towards development. In response to this need, one of our Water & Sanitation initiatives is the installation of high-quality Water Filtration Systems, which are placed in high-traffic areas that will have the broadest impact on the community, especially the children. Consequently, many of our systems are installed in Kindergartens, Primary or Secondary Schools as well as Health Stations. These systems service the given community by providing children with access to a safe reliable water source, which they can then use to benefit their families by taking this clean water home with them, thus expanding the reach and the benefits of this program. The installation package also includes an Opening Ceremony at the site, which involves a 40-minute Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Training presentation on the importance of health and hygiene.
Village Water Connections
Many houses and whole villages still do not have access to running clean water. This project involves connecting households to an existing water supply or connecting an entire community to an available reliable water source.
Latrine Improvements
Another basic need often identified in communities is their desire for hygienic sanitation facilities. Out in rural areas where the main principle is basic survival, the importance of health, hygiene and sanitation is often overlooked and little emphasis is placed on these important principles. As a result, facilities increasingly become less hygienic and fall into further disrepair as no time, money, or importance is placed on the decaying facilities. Given this current state of affairs, we work together with the community on either improving existing facilities or building brand new facilities that are of high quality, as well as working together with the community on changing perceptions of health & hygiene and reinforcing the importance of these principles. The installation package also includes an Opening Ceremony at the site, which involves the 40-minute ‘WASH’ Training.
Health Facilities
The basic human right to have access to medical care is something we firmly believe in. Oftentimes, Health Stations (your local GP/Clinic in the village) in rural communities are very basic, poorly maintained and under resourced. In turn, we partner with communities to reach their development goals by: renovating the existing medical facilities; improving their water & sanitation amenities; and providing much-needed medicine and equipment that will literally save lives. Additionally, we partner with existing medical institutions including various hospitals to provide much needed resource like play therapy rooms for children spending time in hospital.
First Aid & Nutrition/Maternal Health Training
One of the ways we can combat the lack of knowledge and help to prevent illness amongst people in our focus areas is through training. Consequently, we offer a variety of First Aid and Nutrition Training as well as Maternal Health initiatives.
Heart Operations
Many children in Vietnam are born with medical conditions including heart disease; cleft palates and harelips; cataracts; club feet; etc. Without surgery, many of these precious children are destined to very difficult lives not only due to their physical suffering, but also because of the socially debilitating effects of their condition, and for the cases of those requiring heart surgery, their condition is usually fatal. We are able to assist these marginalised children and their families by offering financial assistance that will literally change the lives of these treasured ones, improve their quality of life, and give their family a fresh start.
Mobility Aids
One of the other plaguing health situations amongst children in Vietnam is the rising number of children affected by serious physical deformities leaving them completely dependent on their parents or caregivers which often translates to reduced income opportunities for the family, coupled with the expenses involved in caring for their child. In response to this need, we work with families to provide custom-made wheelchairs and other mobility aids to these beautiful children. A mobility aid may not sound like much, but it can radically change the life of their child, and also their wider family unit as it provides a sense of freedom and independence that both the child and their family have never experienced before.
Early Detection Clinics
Heart defects are still the number one cause of death in Vietnam amongst children, with many finding out there are issues far too late mainly due to a lack of funds to seek medical help. We launched preventative medical initiatives last year, to screen children for heart defects and then refer them on for treatment if needed. We organise doctors and nurses + their equipment to go into schools and facilitate the clinics there as kids are already there and organised into classes etc so it’s much easier on children and their families with parents not having to take time off work for the logistics of it all and loose vital income opportunities. Each clinic is different but is around A$840 and screens at least 1,000 children - sometimes more depending on the commune. We have 20+ clinics planned for this month and are seeking any funding we can to screen these babes asap. Due to COVID-19, we haven’t been able to do many this year but since schools re-opened last month for a brief time before the summer holidays (in less than 1 month), we are keen to get screening and organise surgeries as required.
SAAT - Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
These workshops are specifically for kids (though we also run advocacy & awareness ones for parents, teachers, authority figures etc) and are done during school term as it is easier to organise the logistics. There is usually 40 kids per workshop who are like the class leaders/prefects of their schools. They then go back home/school and share with their class/family about what they have learned. Social workers and others skilled in this area, engage children in practical training to make them aware that abuse should not be the norm and does not have to be their future. We equip them with awareness of the issue as well as resource them with practical ways to avoid/prevent abuse where possible, as well as empower them with a way to report it in the event of it happening or even feel suspicious about it (see the below activity re the hotline). We have requests for about 30 of these right now so appreciate any possible funding to help.
Hotline
Part of the recent focus on the reality of violence against children in Vietnam and proactive awareness campaigns, we have worked with our partners to establish a hotline for children to call and report or seek help in the event of something happening, or for a safe space to talk. We have begun printing awareness and advocacy boards about the issues and advertising the hotline, placing them all around the state in focal places - streets, markets, schools, shops - you name it. This is a state-wide project and want to continue advocating for the rights of children and creating safe spaces for them to have a voice. Each of these hotline + awareness boards is roughly A$17 and we would appreciate any assistance to getting more out throughout the city and state.
Internet Safety Training
These workshops are specifically for kids (though we also run advocacy & awareness ones for parents, teachers, authority figures etc) and are done during school term as it is easier to organise the logistics. There is usually 40 kids per workshop who are like the class leaders/prefects of their schools. They then go back home/school and share with their class/family about what they have learned. Social workers and others skilled in this area, engage children in practical training to make them aware that abuse should not be the norm and does not have to be their future. We equip them with awareness of the issue as well as resource them with practical ways to avoid/prevent abuse where possible, as well as empower them with a way to report it in the event of it happening or even feel suspicious about it (see the below activity re the hotline). We have requests for about 30 of these right now so appreciate any possible funding to help.
Water Safety Training
In Vietnam, the rates of childhood drowning remain high, with a family losing a child every hour. Swimming lessons are usually only for wealthier families living in the cities. We work to install swimming pools in rural communities, with qualified staff teaching children how to be safe in and around the water. This not only saves lives but helps children grow in confidence and self-esteem, while improving their physical strength and coordination.
Health Equipment & Facility Improvements
Good health is the right of every person. We work to ensure the realisation of this right for each member of our partner communities. We do this by equipping community-based health facilities with the basic equipment they need to provide adequate care, as well as through upskilling health workers so they can improve the quality of health services they offer.
Life Skills & Personal Development
We believe in reaffirming the value and dignity of people here in Vietnam and globally. We have developed multiple life skills programs to help children and adults. Our programs equip people with practical tools to navigate the many challenges of life, to thrive amidst adversity, and to journey towards wholeness – body, soul and spirit. We encourage people to passionately pursue their dreams and life’s purpose.
Disaster Relief
Unfortunately, on average, nearly 1 million Vietnamese per year are affected by natural disasters. Consequently, we are committed to responding quickly and effectively to humanitarian emergencies in Vietnam, which are usually the result of typhoons and severe tropical storms. As these disasters are an annual event, we are equipped to provide immediate financial assistance to our government partners to assist victims with practical needs when disaster strikes including: food packages, clothing, blankets or other things as are identified.
Environmental Sanitation
Community Development Workshops